“World’s demands from the Taliban should not end with women’s right to education only”

In a track II dialogue, hosted by HAS, in collaboration with the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies and New York University’s Center for International Cooperation, participants addressed issues in the Taliban’s six months governance, the regional and international countries engagement with the Taliban, and Afghanistan’s dire humanitarian and financial crises.

Speakers underscored the issue of inclusivity. It is crucial to make it clear to the Taliban that inclusivity is not just about symbolically picking individuals from different ethnicities to serve in the government; it is also about creating a constitutionally guaranteed space for all Afghans in politics, including political opposition.

Similarly, international engagement with and demands from the Taliban should not end with only the right to education for women. Women’s and all Afghans full participation in society, especially the right to work at all levels and the right to play an active role in the civil society space are equally important issues.

Over the past six months, the Taliban’s military victory has not resulted in fair, inclusive, and successful governance. Other than engaging with countries of the region and around the world, the Taliban should also have real and meaningful engagement on all issues with the Afghan people.

In addressing the issue of the Afghan Central Bank reserves, despite the attempts by the Biden Administration in the US to try to explain the rationale for the recent Executive Order, it is generally considered by Afghans, regional countries, and internationally as an “illogical” and a “bizarre” move.

The participants agreed to do what is possible to respond to President Biden’s Executive Order. For example, should courts in the US be open to receiving “amicus briefs” on the $3.5 bn that is subject to litigation to the families of the 9/11 attacks, the participants and their fellow legal experts would support such an effort.

(Photo: The Taliban turned the Women’s Affairs Ministry to the Ministry of Vice and the Propagation of Virtue. HAS/Kabul)